Various parts of India are under a heatwave alert, with temperatures reaching up to 45 degrees. In response, schools and colleges are either closed or being instructed to follow summer guidelines. State governments have issued these guidelines and some have even rescheduled summer vacations. For instance, schools in Tripura and West Bengal will remain shut. The heatwave is expected to continue until April 22-23, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), and temperatures will rise in different parts of the country. You can find updates on state-wise school closures and guidelines below.
Delhi government released a set of guidelines for schools
On Wednesday, the Delhi government released a set of guidelines for schools due to the predicted heatwave. According to the advisory, schools in the national capital will no longer hold assemblies in the afternoon. A circular issued by the government stated that during the summer season, when the daytime temperature in Delhi exceeds 40 degrees Celsius, it can negatively impact the health of children and adolescents attending school. The rise in temperature in the National Capital Region (NCR) has resulted in a higher incidence of heat-related illnesses.
West Bengal Schools Closed
In view of the ongoing heatwave, both the School Education Department and the Department of Higher Education in West Bengal have issued orders to shut down all state-run and private schools until April 24.
It’s worth noting that the aforementioned official order to close schools in West Bengal until April 24 applies to all regions except for Darjeeling and Kalimpong, which are hilly areas.
Tripura Schools Closed Till April 23
In response to the soaring temperatures, Tripura’s Chief Minister, Manik Saha, declared on Monday that all government schools in the state will remain closed for a week, from April 18 to 23. This measure was taken to address the situation.
Classes in Odisha schools will be held until 11 am
After the Odisha government’s decision to close schools until April 16, they reopened on April 17 with classes scheduled to conclude at 11 am. The schools had previously been instructed to follow morning timings of 7:15 AM to 11 AM. However, the latest notification from the government released on April 15, 2023, states that the revised timings for both schools and colleges are now 6:30 AM to 11 AM.
Patna School Timing Changed
The district administration of Patna has made adjustments to school timings from Saturday due to the escalating temperatures. Dr. Chandrashekher Singh, the district magistrate of Patna, issued a notification instructing all schools to modify their schedules from 6:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The previous timing for schools in the district was 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
